Thursday, January 29, 2009

The WSJ speaks truth by telling her to "abstain from social engineering" — Speaker Nancy Malthus. "The notion that a larger population will produce a lower standard of living" is so outdated that "during Malthus's own lifetime, his prediction was proved false, as he later acknowledged." The conclusion:

Ms. Pelosi's remarks ignore the importance of human capital, which is the ultimate resource. Fewer babies would move the U.S. in the demographic direction of Europe and Asia. On the Continent, birth rates already are effectively zero, and economists are predicting labor shortages in the years ahead. In Japan, where the population is aging very fast, workers are now encouraged to go home early to procreate. Japan is projected to lose 21% of its population by 2050.

The age and growth rate of a nation help determine its economic prosperity. A smaller workforce can result in less overall economic output. Without enough younger workers to replace retirees, health and pension costs can become debilitating. And when domestic markets shrink, so does capital investment. Whatever one's views on taxpayer subsidies for contraception, as economic stimulus the idea is loopy.

The Angelus

Pray faithfully.

Praise

"To praise you is the desire of man, a little piece of your creation. You stir man to take pleasure in praising you, because you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you . . . Ah, my lord, you are the one true and good lord of your land, which is my heart." - St. Augustine of Hippo

"Wisdom enters through love, silence, and mortification. It is great wisdom to know how to be silent and to look at neither the remarks, nor the deeds, nor the lives of others." - St. John of the Cross